Chapter Text
“Kyuu…”
“I bestow my strength into your hands…”
“A fox?”
“Kyuu?”
“You must be by his side…”
“Please…save my son!”
“They’re in danger. They need you…”
“Kyuu!”
I woke up with a sharp gasp, heart hammering against my ribcage. My body jolted upright as if someone had doused me with a bucket of ice water. My head throbbed almost immediately, the kind of pain that made me wince and press my fingers against my temples.
“Damnit…” I groaned, leaning back against the headboard. “Not again…”
I reached over to the nightstand blindly, my fingers fumbling through the drawer for the painkillers I knew were in there somewhere. The cheap handle rattled and I muttered under my breath, pulling out random things until I finally found the bottle. Popping it open, I dumped two pills into my palm and shoved them into my mouth, washing them down with the stale glass of water on my nightstand.
As I leaned back against the headboard, the pain started to fade, replaced by a dull ache. I sighed, staring at the ceiling. “Why do I keep having this stupid dream?” I whispered to myself.
It had been the same for the past three nights. Different voices, distant but desperate, calling for my name and uttering words I couldn’t fully piece together. Every time I woke up, my head felt like it was about to explode, and every time, I couldn’t make sense of any of it. Was my brain just being weird? Or was there supposed to be some kind of meaning?
I grabbed my phone, the bright screen making me squint.
5:47 AM.
“Are you kidding me?” I groaned, tossing my phone onto the bed and burying my face into my pillow. I had a solid 13 minutes before my alarm went off, but there was no point in trying to go back to sleep now. “Why is it always a school day when I wake up from this nightmare?” I whined into the fabric.
I was not a morning person. At all. But skipping school wasn’t an option—not if I wanted to keep my grades up. And I did. Despite the hell of early morning, I wasn’t about to let myself slack, even if my dream was giving me such a heavy feeling in my chest.
I dragged myself out of the bed with a dramatic sigh, shuffling toward the bathroom like a zombie. At least I’d have time to eat breakfast. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and winced. My hair was a tangled mess, and there were dark circles under my eyes that no amount of concealer could hide.
I splashed cold water onto my face, hoping it would reset my mess of a brain. The water helped a little, jolting me fully awake. I brushed my teeth, ran a brush through my hair, and threw on the first semi-decent outfit I could find.
I trudged back to my room to grab my backpack, muttering under my breath about how I’d kill for just one day to sleep in. Not that I hated school or anything—it wasn’t that bad. I liked learning. It was just the mornings. The mornings.
As I grabbed the handle of my bag, I glanced at my phone again. I had about an hour before leaving, giving me the time to eat and watch TV while I waited for the perfect time to leave.
With my bag slung over my shoulder, I trudged downstairs, still trying to shake off the last remnants of my headache. The smell of breakfast hit me immediately. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten much last night.
I dumped my bag onto the couch and headed for the dining table. Mom was already there, nursing her coffee like she couldn’t survive without it. She looked up and smiled. “Morning, sweetheart.”
“Morning.” I mumbled, plopping into the chair across from her. The plate of scrambled eggs, toast, and sliced fruit she’d prepared for me was already waiting. God bless this woman.
I took a bite of toast, chewing slowly. “Dad out early today?” I asked between bites, glancing at the empty mug sitting at the counter.
Mom nodded, setting her mug down. “Yeah, he had to head to the factory. Something about a shipment mix-up.” She sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “He said he’ll probably be home late tonight.”
“Sounds stressful.” I said, scooping up a forkful of eggs.
She hummed in agreement, then gave me a once-over, her eyes narrowing over her coffee cup. “Alright, spill.” She said suddenly.
I blinked at her, mid-chew. “Spill what?”
She gestured to my face with a raised brow. “That. You look like you’ve been through a storm and back. What’s going on?”
I sighed, lowering my fork and leaning back in my chair. “It’s just…I’ve been having this weird dream.”
Mom raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Weird how?”
I hesitated, pushing the food around my plate with my fork. The dream already sounded weird in my head and saying it out loud was going to feel even worse. But Mom was waiting and I knew she wouldn’t stop pestering me until I told her everything so I took a deep breath and went for it.
“It’s hard to explain.” I said, fiddling with my fork. “It’s like someone’s calling out to me. They keep saying my name and talking about-” I paused, trying to piece the fragments together. “-a fox or something…I don’t know. And I think someone’s in danger because someone was begging me to save their son.”
For a moment, Mom didn’t say anything. She just stared at me, her face frozen in this weird, unreadable expression. Her hand was still holding onto the handle of her coffee cup and I noticed her knuckles tighten slightly.
“Mom?” I frowned. “You okay?”
She blinked, like she’d just snapped out of a trance, and cleared her throat. “Oh, I’m fine. Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”
“About what?” I pressed.
Mom waved a hand, her expression smoothing out like nothing had happened. “It’s nothing, really. Anyway, repeated dreams are normal. It could just be your brain working through stress or something. You’ve been studying hard lately, right? Maybe it’s all just catching up to you.”
“…I guess.” She might have a point, but there was something she wasn’t telling me. Still, I didn’t want to push her. I was confident that she would open up to me soon.
She smiled, a little too tightly, and went back to sipping her coffee. I picked up my fork again and focused on finishing my plate. The silence between us was oddly heavy, but neither of us said anything else.
Once I was done eating, I stood up and grabbed my bag. “Thanks for breakfast.” I said, walking over to her.
“Mhm. Thanks for eating it.” She replied, her tone back to its usual warmth and humor.
I leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll head out now. See ya.”
“Have a good day at school, kid.” She said, ruffling my hair.
“Yeah, yeah.” I mumbled, dodging her hand with a small laugh as I headed out the door.
The bus ride to school was quiet, save for the occasional chatter of other passengers. As I sat near the window, my mind kept drifting back to the dream. Every time I tried to shove it out of my head, that pleading voice would echo faintly in my ears again.
I leaned my head against the glass, letting the coolness seep into my skin as the city blurred by outside. The scenery was my only distraction with the trees whipping past, shops starting to open, and people rushing around. Anything to keep my mind from wandering too far.
When the bus finally pulled up to the school, I was the last to get off. Adjusting my bag on my shoulder, I made my way inside. The chatter of students filled the air, everyone catching up with their friends or frantically finishing homework they forgot to do.
I spotted Shaina and Elise standing near the lockers, their heads close as they laughed about something.
“Hey, guys!” I called out, walking over to them with a smile.
Their laughter faded the moment they saw me. Shaina gave me a quick, tight smile. “Oh, hey, Kyuu.” Her tone wasn’t exactly cold, but it wasn’t the usual bubbly greeting I’d come to expect from her. Elise just nodded at me, her smile polite but lacking any warmth.
I frowned internally but decided not to dwell on it. They were probably just tired or had a rough morning. I pulled out my phone to check the time. “Class is about to start. We should get going.” I told them.
“Right.” Elise muttered, glancing at Shaina as the three of us headed to class together.
Shaina and Elise had been my friends since middle school. Shaina was the loud, confident one, always cracking jokes and pulling me into conversations I’d never initiate on my own. Elise, on the other hand, was more reserved but incredibly kind, the type of person who’d notice when you were having a bad day and quietly slide you a piece of chocolate.
Still, there were moments when I’d catch a weird vibe from them, like they were keeping something from me. Sometimes they’d exchange these quick looks when I said something, or their energy would shift when I joined their conversations. I noticed it, sure, but I never brought it up. I figured if it was important, they’d tell me.
The day passed like most others. I kept my head down in class, focusing on my notes and answering questions when the teacher called on me. I wasn’t exactly the social butterfly type. I preferred to fly under the radar. It wasn’t that I didn’t like people, I just never felt the need to be part of every conversation.
Lunch was the only time I didn’t feel completely invisible. I sat with my friends at our usual table, listening to them chat about their weekend plans while I picked at my food. They didn’t ask about my plans and I didn’t offer to share.
After lunch, I spent most of my free time in the library. It was quiet, and I could study without distractions. I liked it there. With the smell of books and the low hum of the air conditioner. It felt safe.
By the time the final bell rang, I was more than ready to go home. Packing up my things, I glanced toward the door and saw Shaina and Elise already leaving together. “Hey- Wait up!” I called, shoving my books into my bag as fast as I could. We haven’t hung out in weeks and I figured it was the perfect time to do so with the lack of homework given to us.
I jogged up to catch up with them, my breath slightly uneven. “Hey, you guys want to hang out for a bit? Maybe grab a coffee or something?”
They both stopped walking, avoiding my gaze. Shaina scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. “Ah, I can’t today. My mom needs me to help with something at home.”
“Same.” Elise added quickly, her voice quieter. “I’ve got stuff to do.”
Their excuses didn’t sound convincing, and their lack of eye contact made it worse. My smile faltered for a split second but I forced it back into place. “Oh, okay. No worries. Next time, maybe?”
“Yeah, definitely.” Shaina said, giving me a guilty smile.
“See you tomorrow.” Elise added, giving me a small wave before they walked off together.
I watched as they walked away, my chest tightening like someone had reached in and squeezed my heart just enough to make it ache. I was looking forward to hanging out with them. It’s fine. People have lives outside of you, Kyuu.
With a sigh, I turned and started walking in the opposite direction. I didn’t feel like going home yet, not when my thoughts were a jumbled mess. My feet led me towards a nearby bookstore, the perfect place to lose myself in a world that wasn’t my own. The best I could do was distract myself with a good book.
The bookstore always felt like a warm hub after a long day. The faint scent of old pages mixed with fresh coffee, the soft rustle of paper as people flipped through books. It was my little haven. As soon as I stepped inside, my shoulders relaxed, and the weight of the day seemed to melt away.
“Kyuu! Welcome back!” The librarian, Mrs. Finch, greeted me from behind the counter with her usual warm smile. Her gray hair was pinned back into a loose bun, and her reading glasses sat perched at the edge of her nose.
“Hi, Mrs. Finch.” I said, walking up to her. “How’s it going?”
“Oh, you know, the usual.” She said, chuckling. “A couple of kids from your school came to study here, but I’m guessing you’re not here to do that.” She didn’t need a response from me to know the answer. “How about you, dear? Another long day at school?”
“Something like that.” I replied with a sigh. “Figured I’d come here to unwind.”
“You’ve come to the right place.” She said with a knowing nod. “Well, go on then. Let’s see what catches your eye this time.”
I nodded and headed towards the aisles. My feet naturally carried me to the fiction section, specifically to the shelves housing mythology books. Mythology had always fascinated me. There was something magical about the way ancient cultures explained the world through gods, monsters, and heroes. The stories felt timeless, like there were woven into the very fabric of the world.
I ran my fingers along the spines of the books, scanning the titles for something I hadn’t read yet. My eyes lingered on one with a gold-embossed cover when—
THUNK!
“Ow!” I yelped, clutching my head as a sharp pain shot through my skull. “What the-?!”
Rubbing the sore spot, I looked around and spotted the culprit—a book lying face down on the floor next to me. Frowning, I picked it up, brushing off the heavy layer of dust. It looked ancient, the leather cover cracked and worn. The title, Ninjago, was embossed in gold, though the letters were worn and slightly chipped.
“Ninjago?” I muttered aloud. I turned it over in my hands, but there wasn’t much else to go on. The cover had no images, just the title. The edges of the pages were yellowed, almost brittle, like the book had been sitting untouched for years.
Before I could open it, Mrs. Finch appeared at the end of the aisle, her eyes widening slightly when she saw the book in my hands. “Oh.” She said, stepping closer. “You found that one.”
“Uh…yeah.” I said, holding it up. “It fell on my head. Do you know what this is?”
She smiled, taking the book from me. “It’s a collection of legends, really. Stories about a mystical realm where ninjas protect the world from dark forces. There’s elemental power, ancient warriors, and plenty of mythological undertones. It’s very unique.”
My interest was piqued immediately. “Elemental powers and ninjas? That’s an interesting combination…”
Mrs. Finch chuckled, giving the book back to me. “I’d say it’s right up your alley. It’s a bit different from the usual mythology books you read. It’s not from our world, but it has that same sense of wonder and adventure.”
I flipped through the pages. The text was small but legible, and there were occasional illustrations—sketches of warriors in flowing robes, dragons, and strange symbols I didn’t recognize.
“It does look interesting.” I admitted, closing the book. “Can’t say I’ve seen this plenty of times.”
“It’s not very mainstream.” She admitted. “But the story is fascinating. If you’re into mythology, I think you’ll find it worth your time. Plus, who knows? Maybe it was fate that it fell into your head.”
I snorted. “Fate, huh? I think it’s just the universe’s way of saying it’s fed up with me.”
Mrs. Finch smiled knowingly. “Sometimes stories find you when you need them the most.”
Her words made me pause. I glanced down at the book again, running my fingers over its textured cover. It did sound like something I’d enjoy.
“Alright.” I said, tucking the book under my arm. “I’ll give it a shot then.”
Mrs. Finch beamed. “Wonderful! I’ll check it out for you.”
After scanning the book at the counter, she handed it back to me and patted my hand. “Enjoy, Kyuu. I have a feeling you’re going to like this one.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Finch.” I said, slipping the book into my bag. “I’ll let you know what I think.”
“Take care, dear!” She called as I headed toward the door.
“See you soon!” I replied, giving her a small wave before stepping outside, the cool evening air hitting my face. The walk home was quiet, but my mind buzzed with curiosity about the mysterious book now sitting in my bag.
“I’m home!” I called as I stepped through the front door, kicking off my shoes and letting out a tired sigh. The familiar scent of something savory wafted from the kitchen, and my stomach gave me a small grumble in response.
“Hey, kiddo.” Dad’s voice greeted me. I walked over to find him sitting at the table, his laptop open and papers spread out around him. He looked up with a tired smile, his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up.
“Hey, Dad.” I said, a bit surprised. “I thought you were going to be late tonight? Weren’t you dealing with some kind of shipment problem?”
“I was.” He replied, leaning back in his chair. “But I managed to sort it out earlier than expected. Sometimes it pays to make a few calls and uh, strongly encourage people to do their jobs.” He smirked, clearly proud of himself.
I laughed softly, shaking my head. “Yeah, right.”
“Hey, you’d be surprised how effective a little persistence can be.” He said, tapping his temple.
As I was about to reply, Mom’s voice interrupted from the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready!” She announced, carrying a steaming dish to the table. The smell of roasted chicken and vegetables filled the air.
“Looks amazing, honey.” Dad said, getting up to help her bring the rest of the food over.
“Thanks.” She replied with a smile. Then she turned to me. “Come on, Kyuu. Sit down before it gets cold.”
“Uh…” I hesitated, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “I think I might skip dinner tonight.”
Mom paused mid-step, her brow furrowing as she looked at me. “Why? Are you alright?”
Dad chimed in, concern flashing across his face. “Yeah, you’re not sick, are you?”
“No, no, nothing like that!” I said quickly, waving my hands in front of me. “I just ate something before I got home. Not really hungry, you know?”
That was a lie. My stomach growled faintly as if to mock me, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to tell them the real reason I didn’t feel like sitting down for dinner. My mind was already too cluttered with thoughts. Eating with them would mean that there would be questions and I wasn’t sure I was up for those right now.
Mom gave me a skeptical look, crossing her arms. “You sure you’re okay, sweetie?”
I managed a weak smile. “I’m fine, really. Plus, I got some homework to do that are due soon, so…”
Mom exchanged a glance with Dad, clearly not buying my excuse but decided not to push. “Alright, but don’t overwork yourself.”
“I won’t.” I assured them, already backing towards the stairs. “Thanks, though. Dinner smells amazing, Mom.”
She sighed, but there was a small smile on her face. “Okay. Just make sure to eat something later, alright?”
“Will do.” I said before heading upstairs.
As soon as I reached my room, I shut the door behind me and leaned against it with a sigh. My stomach twisted, not from hunger, but from the weight of everything I was trying not to think about. I couldn’t shake the lingering guilt in my chest from blowing off my parents like that, but the same time, I just…couldn’t.
After changing into my oversized hoodie and the comfiest pair of pajama pants I owned, I went through the motions of my night routine. Face washed, teeth brushed, hair tied back. By the time I was done, my mind was already wandering back to the book sitting on my nightstand.
Once I crawled into bed, I grabbed the book and ran my fingers over the textured cover again. Ninjago. The gold lettering glinted faintly under the light of my bedside lamp, and I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement. It wasn’t often I stumbled across something completely unfamiliar, and the mystery of it made me even more curious.
The first page was an illustration, its lines detailed but faded with age. It depicted a group of warriors standing together, each holding a different weapon. Above them was a swirling mass of clouds, with a tengu-like creature emerging from the storm. Below the image was a single line of text:
“When darkness rises, the elements shall unite to restore balance.”
I frowned slightly, my curiosity piqued, and flipped to the next page.
The story started in a realm filled with ancient magic and powerful elements, governed by brave warriors and wise masters. Ninjago was a land of myth, a place where the balance between good and evil was maintained by the legendary Ninja. As I read, the vivid descriptions and thrilling adventures captivated me, drawing me further into the world within the pages.
But as I turned another page, a sharp, searing pain suddenly shot through my head.
“Ah-!” I gasped, clutching my temples as the book tumbled out of my hands and onto the bed.
The pain was overwhelming, like someone was hammering inside my skull. My vision blurred, the words on the page twisting into indecipherable shapes.
“No, no, no…” I whispered, panicking as I fumbled for the bottle of painkillers on my nightstand. My hand trembled, knocking over a glass of water as my fingers searched blindly.
The ringing in my ears grew louder, drowning out my thoughts. My head felt like it was splitting in two, and I couldn’t think straight. My breathing grew erratic, and my chest tightened in fear.
I blinked rapidly, but the disorientation only got worse. The room swayed and tilted as though I was on a rocking ship.
I tried to call out, to yell for help, but my voice got caught in my throat. Everything spun faster and faster until the edges of my vision darkened.
The last thing I saw before everything went black was the book lying open on my bed, its worn pages glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.